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News & updates

BC Ag Expo goes virtual for 2020

It is full steam ahead for the hard working BC Ag Expo 2020 Committee to revamp this year’s fair to ensure that 4-H members and our Open Youth have the chance to still compete with their 2020 projects. 

While the on-going Covid 19 restrictions have made trying to offer a traditional in-person event impossible, we are excited to still be offering an event for all the hard working and dedicated 4-H members and Open Youth to showcase their 2020 projects. We feel very strongly they deserve recognition for all the time and effort they have put into their 4-H year. “ We tried to put a plan together for a modified in-person fair, but in the end we felt that a virtual fair and auction was the only way forward,” said Evelyn Pilatzke, President of BC Ag Expo. “The event is restricted to just 4-H and Open Youth (9 and under years of age) this year. We have had fabulous support from the Open Division in all our past fairs and they have added immensely to the quality of competition in our show. Hopefully they will understand that due to extenuating circumstances, this year we are just focusing the virtual fair and auction on our youth participants.”

An Online Auction is also being organized for the sale of market projects, as the committee realizes that many youth count on the sale of their project to fund next year’s project or the money earned goes towards funding their post-secondary education.

For all the members of the public that count on a 4-H animal to fill their freezer in the fall, details of the online auction will be forthcoming shortly on the BC Ag Expo website: bcagexpo.ca, our Facebook page, or they can contact their local 4-H club for more information on purchasing a project.

This is an extraordinary time and BC Ag Expo Committee will do their best to make sure our youth are well supported through it. 

British Columbia Agricultural Exposition Society Bursary

  The British Columbia Agricultural Exposition Society is proud to award bursaries to Senior 4-H Members who are pursuing a post-secondary education program. One to four $1000.00 bursaries will be awarded, depending on number of applications and funding. As a Society we value the importance of post-secondary education and are pleased to offer this opportunity for financial support. 


Criteria: 

- Senior BC 4-H Members currently enrolled in or planning to attend a post secondary education program may apply 

- Senior members may only be awarded the bursary once 


Application Requirements: 

1) Personal and 4-H Information: 

- Name, address, email and phone number 

- Tell us about yourself 

2) 4-H Information: 

- Number of years in 4-H, your Club and any positions held within the club 

- Achievements within the 4-H program (badges, awards, senior skills certificates) 

- Conferences & programs attended (Club Week, Food for Thought, Youth Action etc.) 

- What has the 4-H program done for you? 

- Include any volunteer activities 

- Additional information about your time in 4-H 

3) Post-Secondary Education Information 

- Provide acceptance letter from University, College or Trade School 

- Educational goals 

Any other information the applicant wishes to share is welcome. 


Selection Committee: 

- The Selection Committee will be made up of no less than 3 current members of the BC 

Agricultural Expo Society 

- Once all applications are received, the Committee will meet to review the applications and 

choose the candidate(s) they feel will most benefit from the bursary 

- The bursary or bursaries will be awarded at the BC Ag Expo banquet 


Deadline for Applications: 

- September 1 of each calendar year 

- Funds will be released upon receipt of the successful applicants first transcript 

Applications can be mailed to address below or emailed to: secretary@bcagexpo.ca 

BC Ag Expo Box 1082, Barriere, BC V0E 1E0

Fredrick Wellington Nichol 1907-1997

A tribute to a dedicated stockman, family man and 4-H supporter

 Frederick Wellington Nichol (Fred) was born to Dave and Ellen Nichol and grew up on the family homestead at Long Lake, South of Kamloops. He attended the Long Lake School until the age of 14, said he left school at the “third reader”. He then started ranching full-time, going to work for neighbour Peter Philip, milking cows, fencing, planting crops or anything that came along. 

Fred’s next employer was J.R. Hull, and he worked for nine years at the Edith Lake ranch. Fred thought he was a cowboy, as there were some cattle, but he worked with many, many horses. These were sold all over BC and Alberta, mostly as race horses. After J.R. Hull’s death, Fred went to Claresholm, Alberta to haul grain to the elevators by six horse Belgian teams, earning big wages of $50.00 per month. He also worked for a time for Pat Burns, a prominent cattle rancher and meat packer. 

Fred came back to work at the Hull Estate at Fadaer Creek in the North Thompson. Having to deal with just cattle then, it was there he met Violet Jagoe , who lived in the valley, with parents John Thomas Jagoe and Marietta Duggan. From the Hull Estate he then worked for Tranquille Farms, riding and looking after the range cattle. 

In 1932 Bob Cahilty, the brand inspector, asked Fred if he would come to Monte Creek and break horses for the Bostock Ranch, an operation that had up to 60 head of Clydesdale work horses at one time. They had bought a lot of young horses that needed to be broke for the mowing machines. Fred also broke all the saddle horses for the ranch. 

At Christmas 1934 Fred had sent (by mail) a pair of beautiful buckskin gloves to Violet. The enclosed note said “Yours Forever, Fred”. They met at the Commodore Café. Fred told Violet that a fellow was leaving Monte Creek, and Coles, the manager, said Fred could have the house. How about it? Violet’s diary states she remembers saying “I thought you’d never ask”. He said “You sure?”, I said “You betcha!” and he put a cute little diamond on my finger in the restaurant. They were married April 22, 1935 and spent the next 27 years at Monte Creek raising their family of four children Edward (who lost his life in a tragic farm accident at age of 5) Kathy, Bill and Rick. 

Fred started his purebred herd with “Lady Celosia” and “Lady Lina”, purchased from Robin McGregor, adding a Champion horned Hereford Bull in 1959. The Thompson Valley Hereford Club was started by Fred and Barry Brady and included the area from Merritt to 100 Mile to Kelowna. 

In 1962, Fred and Violet moved from Monte Creek to the Leyland homestead (9 km up the hill). There was nothing there at that time. They built a new home, barn, outbuildings, re-built fences, and put in an irrigation system. There he continued raising his beloved Herefords, showing them at a great many fairs. 

In 1947, Fred’s 4-H involvement started when Gabriel Luyat, Assistant District Agriculturalist and Jack Grey approached Bill Harrison, president of Martin Prairie Farmers Institute and Livestock Association to promote a 4-H Club. Bill Harrison contacted Fred Nichol to start a club. He agreed, and the South Thompson Club was created. That fall there were nine members, Janice Bruce, Peggy Ferguson, Vic, Albert and Alvina Piva, Burt and Karl Lingren, Rose Lingren and Kathleen Nichol. 

In the years to follow, the South Thompson Club expanded and was registered in three sections, Chase, Westwold and Monte Creek. Many field days were held at the Bostock Ranch and families from all over BC took part in judging – up to 300 people. Many 4-H members have fond memories of Mr. Nichol teaching them how to make a halter and how to identify the collection of antique farm tools at these field days. Fred also attended the Provincial 4-H Club Advisory Council in Victoria. In 1959, the 4-H 

Leaders Council started in Kamloops, with Fred as the chairman. In that same year Murray Soder, George Farmer and Fred started the 4-H Judging Rally and Calf Scramble. 

The first Scramble was held in the old skating arena in Exhibition Park on Lorne Street, providing 4-H members the opportunity to win a calf that would be used for either the members next year’s 4-H project or open entry. Since 1960 the Fred Nichol Scramble Class trophy has been presented to the best quality finished steer from the previous year’s calf winners. The first winner was Donald Kirschner, from the Kelowna 4-H Beef Club. Over the last 60 years, many members from different clubs have received this memorable trophy. The event has changed to the Fred Nichol Event held at BC Ag Expo, which features an obstacle course, instead of a calf scramble and in honour of Fred, contestants are asked to make a rope halter as part of the competition. The Fred Nichol Event still provides the opportunity for members to win money for their next year’s project, helping to further their 4-H career and knowledge. 

The South Thompson Club honoured Fred with a trophy recognizing his 25 years as a 4-H leader; this trophy is awarded to the Reserve Champion 4-H Steer at BC Ag Expo. 

Fred took great pride in youth development and his children were all very active in the 4-H program. Grandchildren, great and great great grandchildren carry on his legacy “Learn to do by Doing”. 

A highlight in Fred’s life was being the 4-H Beef Judge at the PNE for 2 consecutive years. He judged the bulls at Williams Lake and travelled many areas in BC. The Hereford MOE Show at Armstrong was named in his honour, when he judged there. 

In 1988 Fred stated that between himself and his old saddle horse, they were 102 years old. One hundred and two years in the cattle business. At this time he retired leaving his son Rick and wife Wendy to carry on. 

So many memories of knowledge, stories, fun and humour remain from a very special man. 


Fred’s other accomplishments: 

- 15 Year Leadership 

- 4-H 25 Year Leadership 

- 4-H; presented by Dave Freed, Dept. of Agriculture 25 Year Leadership 

- 4-H; South Thompson 4-H Club Certificate of Merit; presented when Olympic Flame passed Kamloops 

- Contribution to the Community Cowboy Hall of Fame 2000 

2020 Beef Raffle

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Congratulations Everyone on a fantastic fundraiser!

We had the raffle draw Sunday May 31 and of the 700 tickets all but 67 were sold.  

Huge thanks to everyone who sold and bought tickets.  Dani, Brent & Lianne, Jamie,

 Julieanne and Lynn all deserve an extra Thank You as they did a tremendous job 

selling a ton of tickets each.  

Thank you Julieanne for organizing the raffle.

A big Thanks to Rainer Custom Cutting Ltd. for donating the cutting & wrapping!

Congratulations to the winners

1st prize of 1/2 beef - Jeanette Noble

2nd prize of 1/4 beef - Doug McQueen

3rd prize of 1/4 beef - Monty Noble

4th prize $100 of BC Ag Expo merchandise - Darrell Commazzetto

Thanks again to everyone for all your support!

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